Hearing Aid Design
First Claim
1. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:
- a hearing aid module comprising;
a case having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the ear canal when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the proximal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the retro-auricular space when the case is inserted into the tunnel;
electronic circuitry housed in said case;
an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the distal end of the case;
a microphone also electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the proximal end of the case;
a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and
a hollow tube adapted for insertion into the tunnel, wherein the case of the hearing aid module is adapted to be slidably inserted into and withdrawn from said tube, wherein said tube is coated with a steroid or drug;
wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and
wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A hearing aid module is shaped for insertion into a tunnel made through the soft tissue that connects the retro-auricular space with the ear canal. The hearing aid module contains a speaker or auditory transducer, a battery or other power source powering the module, signal processing circuitry, a microphone, and a hollow tube which contains a steroid or drug. Telemetry circuitry within the module allows the signal processing circuitry to be programmed with a desired frequency response or signal processing strategy using an external programming unit. A remote control unit permits the user to make simple adjustments, such as volume and/or tone (frequency) control.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:
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a hearing aid module comprising;
a case having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the ear canal when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the proximal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the retro-auricular space when the case is inserted into the tunnel;
electronic circuitry housed in said case;
an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the distal end of the case;
a microphone also electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the proximal end of the case;
a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and
a hollow tube adapted for insertion into the tunnel, wherein the case of the hearing aid module is adapted to be slidably inserted into and withdrawn from said tube, wherein said tube is coated with a steroid or drug;
wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and
wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:
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a hearing aid module comprising;
a case having a proximal end and a distal end and a mid point, wherein the distal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the ear canal when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the proximal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the retro-auricular space when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the mid point comprises a point approximately midway between the proximal end and the distal end;
electronic circuitry housed in said case;
an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the distal end of the case;
a microphone also electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and positioned in said case so as to reside at a location between the mid point of the case and the distal end of the case;
a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and
a hollow tube adapted for insertion into the tunnel, wherein the case of the hearing aid module is adapted to be slidably inserted into and withdrawn from said tube, wherein said tube is coated with a steroid or drug;
wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and
wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal; and
furtherwherein signal processing circuitry includes means for processing the signals sensed through the microphone so that the sound waves emitted towards the ear canal by the acoustic transducer are compatible with and augment the sound waves traveling naturally through the ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A hearing aid adapted for insertion into a tunnel that connects a retro-auricular space to an ear canal, comprising:
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a hearing aid module comprising;
a case having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the ear canal when the case is inserted into the tunnel, and the proximal end comprises the end of the case adapted to be closest to the retro-auricular space when the case is inserted into the tunnel;
electronic circuitry housed in said case;
an acoustic transducer electrically connected to said electronic circuitry and located in said case so as to reside near the distal end of the case; and
a power source housed in said case and electrically connected to the electronic circuitry; and
a hollow tube adapted for insertion into the tunnel, wherein the case of the hearing aid module is adapted to be slidably inserted into and withdrawn from said tube, wherein said tube is coated with a steroid or drug;
a microphone located remotely from the hearing aid module, wherein said microphone is electronically coupled with the electronic circuitry housed in said case;
wherein the electronic circuitry includes signal processing circuitry for amplifying and processing signals sensed through the microphone and for presenting the amplified and processed signals to the acoustic transducer; and
wherein the acoustic transducer converts the amplified and processed signals received from the electronic circuitry to sound waves, which sound waves are emitted towards the ear canal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification